Shinnosuke Abe, the manager of Japan's storied baseball team the Yomiuri Giants, has resigned from his position after being arrested on allegations that he assaulted his teenage daughter. The 47-year-old former star player was taken into custody but later released. He publicly apologised during a news conference on Tuesday, stating he was stepping down as manager and expressing regret for causing trouble due to his family matters.
Incident Details
According to the Yomiuri newspaper, which owns the team, the incident occurred on Monday at Abe's home in Tokyo. He allegedly grabbed his 18-year-old daughter by the collar and threw her to the floor while attempting to stop a fight between her and her younger sister. The daughter, whose identity has not been disclosed, subsequently contacted a child guidance centre after seeking advice from the artificial intelligence application ChatGPT. In a statement released on Tuesday, she said the centre reported the alleged incident to the police, who arrived at their home hours later. She expressed shock at seeing her father apprehended, noting that she was not injured and that she and her father had reconciled, urging the public not to worry.
Abe's Response and Career
The Yomiuri Giants confirmed that Abe admitted to the allegations, reportedly stating that he lost his temper upon witnessing the girls fighting. Abe was a standout player during his career, leading the Central League in batting average and RBIs in 2012 and achieving 2,000 career hits in 2017. He retired from playing in 2019 and took on the role of team manager in 2024. Following his resignation, the Giants have appointed offensive chief coach Hideki Hashigami as the acting manager.
